Committed to the liberals, his open opposition to the regime of President Ulises Heureaux led him to exile and to undertake an attempt at an armed invasion of the country in 1872.

The opposition between the two polarized the political life of the country, which was divided between Jimenistas and Horacistas (also called bolos and colúos, respectively, using the jargon of the popular cockfights).

Jimenes inherited the exorbitant foreign debt accumulated during his predecessor's term of office, the total amount of which had been kept hidden until then.

The country's financial situation was catastrophic: customs revenues were in the hands of foreign capital and administrators, who controlled a large part of the treasury's resources.

With the former he managed to reach an agreement on the debt, but with the United States (represented by the powerful Santo Domingo Improvement Company) all his efforts were in vain.

Woodrow Wilson 's administration sought to place the country's economic resources and security forces under Washington 's direct control.

Jimenes's authority was called into question when the foreign occupation took place and, in May 1916, the nation's Congress voted in favor of the uprising of the Minister of War, General Desiderio Arias.